WHAT IS ZIKA? GENERAL HEALTH Zika is an infection caused by a virus first found in Africa in 1947. Recent outbreaks have occurred in Brazil and spread to South and Central America and the Caribbean. Tonga and Samoa have reported cases recently and the current South American outbreak may have originated in the Pacific. HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED? Several types of mosquito are responsible for transmitting Zika. There have been no locally transmitted cases reported as yet but in Queensland the responsible mosquito can be found in the far north (from Torres Strait down to Charters Towers, including Cairns and Townsville) where it currently transmits Dengue Fever. In the Pacific, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands have the mosquito. The concern is that travellers returning from Latin America could bring the virus back with them, as the majority of infected people (60 - 80%) have no symptoms. Sexual transmission has been implied in several recent cases but importantly, there is suspected “mother to child” transmission resulting in possible birth defects if women are infected before or during pregnancy. SYMPTOMS OF ZIKA? Those who get symptoms may develop a slight “Zika fever”, tiredness, headache, eye pain and conjunctivitis, possibly a rash that starts on the face and spreads over the body and joint pains, especially in the hands and feet. Many people who have the virus will not even know they have it as it mirrors a mild sickness and may not even present symptoms at all. HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED? Diagnosis can be difficult but previous exposure can be suspected if the blood test for Dengue Fever is positive (as they are related diseases) and there is a test for acute or recent infection. pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 25
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Seven
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